Apparatus for mounting inserts in cards



Jan. 5, 1965 s. T. STOOTHOFF ETAL 6 APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING INSERTS IN CARDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 8, 1956 INVENTORS June? [swarm/v Mann msmorm ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1965 s. 1'. STOOTHOFF ETAL 0 APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING INSERTS IN CARDS Original Filed Nov. 8, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTORS spawn I swan/afi- -ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1965 S. T. STOOTHOFF ETAL APPABATUS FOR MOUNTING INSERTS IN CARDS Original Filed NOV. 8. 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 5, 1965 s. '1'. STOOTHOFF ETAL 3,164,510

APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING INSERTS IN CARDS Original Filed Nov. 8, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 I l7 mmvrons ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1965 s. T. STQOTHOFF ETAL 3,164,510

APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING INSERTS IN CARDS Original Filed Nov. 8, 1.956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fC/Jj IN VEN TORS .szmur z STOUT/{OFF 7 53.25 gyflm W ATTORNEYS 3,164,510 APPARATUS FQR MOUNTING INSERTS IN CARDS Stanley '1. Stcothofi, Glen Rock, and William W. Stooth- *oif, Ramsey, N.J., assignors to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware 1 Original application Nov. 8, 1956, Ser. No. 621,152, now Patent filo-3,034,388, dated May 15, 1962. Divided and this application Apr. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 185,375

8 Claims. (Cl. 156-514) r This invention relates to a method of an apparatus for mounting'record bearing sections, such as sections of microfilm, in aperture cards. v g

This application is a division of application Serial No. 621,152, filed November 8, 1-956, now Patent No. 3,034,388.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel method of cutting or blanking out a section of record bearing strip, such as micro-film, and for for,- warding such cut section and pressing it into and securing it in an aperture in a card, 7

Another object of the invention is to-provide novel apparatus for cutting a record bearing strip, such as micro film, into individual sections, for forwarding such cu-t sections,-and formounting them in apertures in cards.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel.

apparatus of the above character wherein the sections to be cut from the supply strip may be viewed for selection and/ or positioning purposes prior to the cutting or blanking out of such sections and the mounting of them in the apertures in the cards.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of improvedmeans for guiding and locating the cards with respect to the section-cutting, forwarding, and

pressing means, whereby accurate,registrybetweenthe cut strip sections and the apertures in the cards is assured. The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fullyvappeaij from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection "with the accompanying drawings; his to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, I r

FIG. 1 is a view in plan of one form of strip sectioncutting and mounting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, the View showing only the strip feeding and cutting means, the card guiding means, and a portion of the projection" means whereby the film sections may be viewed prior to the sectioncutting and mounting operations;

FIG, 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the view being taken in the direction from right to left in such prior figures;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal vertical section through the apparatus, the section being taken substantially along the line 44 of-FIG.' 1, certain parts of the apparatus being shown in elevation;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the apparatus, the section being taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2, certain of the parts having portions thereof broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary vertical sections through the apparatus, the several views being taken along the lines 6-45, 7-7, and 8-45, respectively, of FIG. 2, certain of the parts in FIGS. 6 and 7 having portions thereof broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

United States Patent structures for various purposes.

Patented Jan. 5, 1565 FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through the cooperating strip cutting dies of the apparatus, the section being taken along'the line 9-9 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a view in elevation of a card having a record bearing section mounted in an aperture therein;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view in horizontal section through a film strip, an apertured card, and elements of the strip-cutting and section-mounting means cooperating therewith, the elements of the apparatus, the film strip, and the card being shown in the relative positions which they occupy at the start of the cutting and mounting operation, the section through the card being taken generally along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, but with the film strip, the card, and the parts of the apparatus generally in the positions they occupy at the end of the film sectionmounting operation; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic view in longitudinal axial secing system of which the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, inclusive, may be employed as a part.

- Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, inclusive, by way of example, one form of strip feeding,:cutting, and mounting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Such apparatus, as will be understood after consideration of FIG. 13, is adapted to be used in a system which permits thescanning of the record bearing strip while it is being fed, and before} the individual sections are cut therefrom and mounted. Such system, and the apparatus of the present invention, are particularly, although not exclusively,

adaptedtor mounting individual sections or frames of micro-film in apertured cards of the record type commo'nly employed in connection with known and existing record card tabulating and sorting systems and machines.

It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the mounting of film sections in the statistical or tabulating machine type of card, since other forms of record or catalogue cards, as well as ordinary cards may be used for this purpose. Additionally, apparatus in accord-ance with the present invention may be used to advantage for mounting record bearing and other sections, which may be transparent or translucent, or in some instances opaque, in apertured cards or card-like For simplicity the strip 15 from which the sections are severed for mounting in cards ltl is herein called film.

For purposes of illustration only, there is shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 one form of card, designated 10, which is of the statistical or tabulating machine type. In FIG. '10 the card is shown as havinga rectangular aperture 11 in which there is mounted a section 14 of microhim. As indicated in FIGS. 10 and 12, the section or frame 14 of micro-film fits accurately within aperture 11 in the card 10, and the rear surface of the film section lies substantially flush with the rear surface of the card. The film section 14 is retained in the aperture 11 by a transparentborder or frame 12 which has its inner face, overlying the marginal edge of the film section 14 and the-edge of the aperture, coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. Preferably, the border 12, as herein shown by wayof illustration, is embedded in the face of the card 10 so that the outer face of the border lies flush with the face of the card.

In accordance with the described embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention, the aperture 11 in the card 10 is made of such width, or vertical dimension as herein shown, that it accurately receives the uncut longitudinal edges of the film section 14, thereby economically utilizing the full width of the film. This requires the cutting of the film strip 15 with but one or two, two when the leading edge of the strip must be inwardly through a side section into the respective upper and lower central sections and fitted to snugly engage said sections, and a machine screw 71 disposed within and exholes in the hanger strips 84 and 85, respectively, and

tending through the sleeve and threaded into the respective central dissection. Such construction facilitates the machining of the parts of the female die 16, the replacement of wearable parts thereof, and the assembling of i the edges of the :film strip -15 in alignment with the die 16. The thus assembled composite female die 16 is rigidly the operable guides (to be described) cooperating with secured to the bracket portion- 42 by machine screws 72 (FIGS. 6 and 7). The composite female die116 is formed on the front side thereof with a forwardly protruding central portion 75 (FIG. 4) which extends into the recess 74 in the bracket portion 42 such that the forward face of said die portion is spaced from the rear surface of the anvil member 56 a distance which slightly exceeds the thickness of card 10, thus forming a card-receiving slot 76 between the female die 16 and the anvil member 56.

The female die 16 has a passage 18 therethrough of the same size and shape as the section to be cut from the film supply strip 15, and also the same as the vertical cross-section of the male dieor punch 17, said passage being defined by the lower and upper surfaces of the upper and lower die ,sections 65 and 66, respectively, and by the inner surfaces of the sidedie sections 67 and 69,

land being located so that the center thereof is co-axial with the axes of the anvil plate 56 and lens unit 20. Each 1 are threaded into openings in the bracket portion 42, provide for vertical adjustment of the plate 82 and for holding said plate securely in adjusted position. Solderedor otherwise suitably secured to the lower edge of plate 82 is a horizontal transverse bar or ledge 90 which has an appreciable width in a direction forwardly from said plate and is loosely received to a substantial depth in a horizontal transverse groove 91 (FIGS. 4 and 5) formed in the rear face of the bracket portion 42. The depth of the groove 91 and the width of the ledge 90 are; such that said ledge extends forwardly beyond the vertical plane of the rear surface of the anvil plate 56. The plate 82 extends inwardly to substantially the adjacent side die section 67, and the ledge '90 extends between the bracket portion 42 and the female die 16 to a location laterally beyond the opposite side die section 69.

To support the free end of the ledge 90, there is provided an elongated vertical hanger strip 92 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which is soldered or otherwise suitably secured at its lower end to the rear surface of said ledge and adjacent the free end thereof. Hanger 2 provides for accurate vertical adjustment of the free end of the ledge 90and, when clamped to the bracket portion 42 by means of machine screws 94 and 95, secures said ledge in adjusted when screws 86,87, 94, and 95 have been loosened, is

surface of each of the laterally extending strip-receiving 1 passages 79 is in the form of a shearing edge, such edge on the die section 67 being designated 77 (FIGJ9). As

shown in EFIGS. 4, 6 and 9, the forward surface of each concave shape and is symmetrically disposed vertically.

relative to the central horizontal, plane therethrough. Consequently, upon cutting movement of the male die or punch 17 relative to the female die 16, the film sup ply strip 15 is first shearingly engaged between said dies at each of the four corners of the strip section to be. cut out, the cuts then extending progressively inwardly toward the horizontal center line of suchsstrip section upon continued movement of the die :17. In order to facilitate manufacture of each of the side sections 67 and 69, the forward portion thereof, indicated at 83 (P1619), which contains the described concave shearing edge 77 is formed separately from the main body thereof and is rigidly secured to said main body as by rivets 81 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

The card 10, upon its edgewise introduction by the operator into the slot76 between the anvilmernber 56 and the forward face of the female die 16 from the left-hand side of the apparatus as viewed in FIG. 3, is accurately located with the aperture '11 of the card in exact vertical and horizontal registry with thelongitudinal passage 18 through die '16 by card-locating means now to be described. Turning particularly to FIGS, 5, 6, and 7, in which the card-locating means is most clearly shown, it will be seen that there is a flat vertical plate fizwhich is disposed parallel to and is spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of the anvil plate56. Thisplate 32 extends laterally outwardly of the bracket 33 and inwardly a short distance beyond the adjacent side of said bracket and forms, with the beveled surface 89 (FIG. 2) at the card-entering edge of the bracket portion 42, a narrow throat into which the leading edgeof the card It is introduced. Plate 82 is supported on the bracket portion 42 by means of upper and lower hanger strips 84 and 85, respectively, which are soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the rear surface of the plate, 82 so as to leave the forward surface of said plate flat and unobstructed. Upper and lower horizontal machine screws'86 and 87,

effected by means located at the upper end of each of the hangers 84' and 92 and interacting with the bracket portion 42. As shown, the hanger strip- 84 has a forwardly bent horizontally disposed fiat finger 96 at its upper end, and, a machine screw 9 extends through a clearance opening in said finger and is threaded into the bracket portion 42.

' A coil compression spring 97 (FIG.'3) is located between the bracket portion 42 and the finger 96 and surrounds the screw 99, so thatwhen the screw is rotated in one direction, the hangers 84, 85, plate 82 and ledge 90 are moved downwardly by said screw in opposition to v the tension of said spring, 'and when the screw is rotated in the opposite direction, said hangers, plate and ledge are moved upwardly by the expanding action of the spring 9'7. The hanger strip 92 is provided with asimil ar means for vertical adjustment of the same and the ledge 90, said means comprising a forwardly extending horizontal finger 160. at the upper end of said hanger strip, a machine screw 102' extending through a clearance opening in the finger and threaded into the bracket portion 42, a coil compression spring 101 (FIG. 3) disposed between said bracket portion and said finger and surround ing said screw. Because the groove 91'for the ledge 9i) is'substantially wider vertically than said ledge, not only is the ledge free-for substantial vertical adjustment, but it may also be appreciably tipped in its plane if required to ring a card 10 supported thereon into proper position for accurate vertical registry of its aperture 11 with the passage 18 through the female die 16.

An end card-stop assembly, generallydesignated 104 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7), is provided to locate each card 10 in the proper lateral position for accurate horizontal registry of its aperture 11 with the passage 18 through the female die ldwhen the card has been fully inserted into the slot 76. As shown, the stop 104 has a flat body 105, made, for example, of sheet metal, which overlies the rear face of the bracket portion 42 at the side thereof opposite the card supporting and guiding plate 82. Body 15 has soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the inner edge thereof .a vertically disposed ledge or bar 106 which is of an appreciable width andis loosely received to a substantial depth in a relatively wide vertical groove 107 forrnedinthe rear face of the bracket portion 42. Ledge 106 extends forwardly and rearwardly beyond the plane extent as does ledge 9t). 7 Body 105 of the card-stop assembly the is formed with two forwardly bent vertically spaced and vertically disposed fiatfingers Hi9 which overlie and are spaced some what laterally fromthc adjacent side of the bracket por tion 421(FlGS.. land Between eachof the fingers l0? and the bracket portion 4-2 there is disposed a coil compression'spring lit). A screw 111 extends through. a clearance opening in each of the fingers res, through spring 110, and is threaded into the bracket portion 42. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, 'the above-described hanger strip 92 overlies the body 165 of the'end stop tea. Accordingly, the screw/s94 and95 also extend through enlarged openings (not shown) in the body N5. When the screws 94 and 95 are loosened, the end stop litid may, byjsiinply turning the screws 111 in the proper direction, be adjusted laterally towardyand away from the temale die 16 to vertically align the ledge lite, and to bring said ledge into proper lateral position with respect to the passage 18 through said die. Thereupon, assuming, that the ledgeQh has also been properly adjusted as hereinbefore described, screws 94 and 95ers tightened, thereby clamping theend stop 164, as well as the hanger strip d2, against the bracket portion 42 to immovably hold said end stop )and the ledge 95 in their proper adjusted positions. I c

The film strip is led later-ally'of'thefemale die 16 so as to pass through-the passages 79in the side sections 67 and ti9fithereof rearwardly of the cutting edges '7? in such side die sections. Thefilm strip 15 is guided-accurately for presentation to upper and lower retractable guides 175 and 1761 (to be describedllying generally withinthe'passage 18 through the die ld'bya vertically disposed. filr'n strip-receiving guide channel 112 (FEGS, l, 6 and 7)' positi'oned laterally of said die at the, on-

I trance sidethereofi Channel 112 isprovid'ed with a and 3) rotatably mounted adjacentone end thereof in a bearing 123 011 the bracket 113, and adjacent the other end thereof in a bearing in a pillow block 128 bolted or otherwise suitably sccured'to the plate 29. The shaft 125 'extendsthrough-suitable clearance openings in the webs id of bracket 33 and has secured thereto a spiralgear 126 which meshes with a similar spiral gearlfii which is secured to a vertical shaftlllSQ The roll 124i is secured to the shaft 11? and 'th'e'latter is journaled 'in suitable parallel upper and lower projections of the bracket 113. A shaft-turning knob 129 is secured to each end of the cross shaft 125, so that the film may be fed conveniently by the operator from either side of the apparatus. It will be apparent that the film strip 15 may be fed from the reel 115 into the lateral passages 79 and across the central passage 18 in the female die 16 to the extent required for the cutting of each successive complete frame of film, as

indicated by the image of such frame projected upon the screen'2'7, and that, if necessary, the positioning of a complete image may be very accurately determined by turning 'the shaft 125 in either direction, as required, when the position.

film frame approaches the desired ultimate, frame cutting The rear assembly 3410f 'the apparatus has ajmain bracket 13th (FIGS. 1,2 and 4') which'is centrally positioned uponthe plate 29"r'earwardly of and in axial alignment with the previouslyfdescribed assembly 32. To

insure accurate alignment of assembly 34 with "respect to assembly 32, keys 131 are provided on the bottom surface of the bracket 13% to slidably interfitwith the longitudinal groove 36 in'the plate 29. The bracket 13th is secured to the plate 29 for limited longitudinal adjustment therealong by bolts 132 which extend throughelongated holes in cover ll l secured to the edges of the channel, as shown I in FIG. 6.1 Laterally, spaced from the side of .die to throughwhich the film strip 15 enters, 'is a supporting bracket I13 (FIGS. 1. and 3) which is bolted orotherwise suitably secured to the top of the supporting plate 29. A supply reel'HS forthefilm'strip 15 is supported on an annular plate or plat-form 116. To allow for Vertical adjustment of the alignment of the film strip 1521s it isfedoifreel Elb'intdthe guiding channel 312, the reel supporting plate 3116 is rotatably carried by a post 117 flanges 134 on said bracket and are'threaded into said plate. v I a v s A cross-head 137 (FIGS; 1,2, 4 and 8), which carries 7 the male die or punch 17, is located at the forward end of 'thebracket 13d and is supported for rectilinearmovenient toward and away from'thef female die ML The ,dieor which is suitably secured in the plate 2? for vertical adjustment. To prevent over-running or co-astingof the reel relative to the plate 116 during the film feeding operation, the platform lldhas adhesivelysecured thereto an upper layerot friction material 119, such as cork, upon which the lower flange of reel E15 rests. The weight of the'reel 115 and its contained supply of film strips, therefore, acting with'facing 119 imposes a suitable ret-arding torque on the reel 115.

' As shown in FIGS. 1 and3, the film strip 15 upon leaving the reel 115 passes between pinch rolls 1% and 121,

the nip of which is aligned with channel 112, a Roll 12% is selectively manually driven by'means to be described. Roll 121 isidle and is pivotally mounted upon the bracket 113 so as to be movable toward and away from driven roll 12th For this purpose,.the idler roll lzl is journalled on and; between parallel upper and lower arms 122 of.

aleve'r which is mounted on the bracket 113 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. "Coil extension springs 124' connected to the bracket 113 and tothe free ends of the arms 112i constantly urges roll 121 toward roll 12%, in order to maintain suitable frictional engagement between the filrn strip 15 and the roll 12h. Preferably, when the roll lZlengages'the emulsion side of the filmstr'ip if? as in the embodiment of the apparatus shown, such roll 7 is provided with an outer covering layer of resilient material, such as rubber.

The filmfeeding roll isselectively rotated bythe operator by means including a cross shaft 125 (FIGS. 1 I

punch lfis provided with ailan'ge 139 at itsrear end,

such flange being'secured" against the for'war'dface of cross-head 137 by' bol'ts 140 (FIG. '8) Cross-head 137 and punch 17 are supported and accurately guided'for rectilinear movement parallelto the film-frame-receiving passage 18 through the female die'id by upper and lower horizontal guide rods 141 which extend rearwardlyffro'm and are'suitably' secured in the-sections 65 and 66 of said die; and are slidably engaged in bushings 3141' fitted in the cross-head 137,as shown in FIG. 14. I

To further support and guide the cross-head 137, and to counteract that componentfof the thrust exerted by toggle type cross-head driving means which lies at an angle to'the longitudinal common axis of the dies 16 and 17,

' there are provided additional guide means for said crosshead which are shown most clearly in FIG. '8. As shown,

said additional guide means comprises similar spac'edconfronting tracks 142 which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the bracket 13% and are located at'ea'ch side of the cross-head 137. Anti-friction rollers 1143 journalled on stub shafts 147 which are suitably secured in .the cross- Ihead 1 37 and lie in a horizontal axial plane through the punch 17, are accurately received between the upper and lower horizontal surfaces of the tracks 14-2. Because the forward ends of spaced horizontallinks 146 are likewise connected to the stub shafts 147, and are located immediately adjacent the rollers143, such rollers and the tracks 142 effectively prevent the'transmission to the cross-head 137 and punch 17 of allforces other than'those in a horizontalplane. As a result, the cross-head 137 and the male die or punch 1'7 mounted thereon, are very accurately guided for rectilinear movement along the axis of the female die 16.

The upper rear corners of the bracket 13th are made in the form of spaced parallel ears 144 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4).

Pairs of similar links 145' are pivotally connected at their links 145 are pivotally connected to the rear end of one of I the links 146 which extends between said pair of links.

The forward ends of the other pair of links 145 are piv-,

extended substantially horizontal position, thrust the punch 17 forward within the female die 16 in an operative stroke of a predetermined extent to thereby effectively sever a film frame 14 from the film strip 15 and mount said film frame in a card 10;

To operate the toggles 145, 146 and thus to reciprocate the male die or punch 17, there is provided an operating lever having an equalizing type of linkage interposed between it and said toggles. The linkage includes a cross bar 149 (FIGS. 1 and 4) having pivotally connected to opposite ends thereof the lower ends of spaced parallel links 150 which extend upwardly between each of the pairs of links 145 of the respective toggles and are pivotally connected to the latter links intermediate the ends thereof. The cross bar 149 is provided centrally thereof with centrally disposed upper and lower concave seats 151 and 152, respectively. Washers 154having similarly curved surfaces are disposed in the seats 151 and 152 and engaged over the upper annular end of a threaded connecting rod 155. The described connection between rod 155 and cross bar 149 is such as to allow rocking of said cross bar as required to correct any. slight misalignmentof the respective pairs of links 145 so that the movement imparted by said links to the punch17'is equal at both sides of said punch, and canting and jamming of the punch Within the female die 16 is avoided.

Connecting rod 155 is adjustably secured, as shown in FIG. 4, in a block 156 having spaced ears 166 depending therefrom between which is pivotally engaged the free end .of one arm 165 of a bell-crank lever 164, the other arm of which is indicated 'at 167. The arm 165 of bell-crank lever 164 is pivotally connected to the block 156, and said bell-crank lever is keyed to a cross shaft 157 which is rotat-ably supported beneath plate29 in pillow blocks 158 secured to said plate. Outwardly of the pillow blocks 158, as best shown in FIG. 3, shaft 157 has'terminal fitttings159 (left) and 160 (right) non-rotatably secured thereto. An operating lever or handle 161 may be secured into either of terminal fittings 159 and 160,1so that the film hell crank lever 164. The upperv surface of extension 170 is adapted to abut against the lower end of an adjustable stud 172 threaded in the yoke 171, whereby to determine the fully retracted position of the male die or punch 17. An adjustable stud 174, threaded into the bight of the yoke 171, cooperates with the lower surface I 110 block 136 secured to the plate 29 and is arranged to engage the bracket 131) of said rear assembly. :Upon loosening of the bolts 132 for the bracket 130, and rotation of the stop screw 135 in either ,direction, minute longitudinaladjustments of the rear assembly 34 may be effected. Following this, the bolts 132 are again tightened to im: movably retain the rear assembly 34 in the desired longitudinally adjusted position.

The above-mentioned retractable film guides 175 and 176 associated with the female die 16 are shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 6. In both such figures the guides are shown in their inner, operative positions. The guides 175 and 176 proper, confront each other and each is in the form of a relatively thin and narrow elongated member which horizontally spans across substantially the entire distance between the confront-ing cut-defining side surfaces of the side sections 67 and 69 of the female die 16.= Each guide 175 and 176 is formed with a narrow horizontal groove or slot 178 in the inwardly facing surface thereof, said groove opening outwardly through said surface and through opposite ends of said guide. The

guides 175 and 176 are adapted to receive in the grooves 178 thereof the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the-film strip 15' after. said strip has been advanced through the fixed guide 112. and the passage 79 in the first die section 69, and 'as the same is advanced across the opening or passage 18 in the die 16, whereby bowing section 67. In this manner, severed film frames or sec- 'tions 14 of uniform length and of the required length are always obtainedJgWhen theguides 175 and 176 are in their inner, operative vertical positions, shown in FIGS.

. 4 and 6, to receive the film strip 15, the bottoms of the protrude into the die opening 18 and thus into the path grooves 178 therein. are horizontally aligned with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the fixed guide 1'12,-and substantial widths. offthe guides 175 and 176 of operative movement of the male die or punch 17.

of the bell-crank-arm-extension 170 to determine the de- I sired position of farthest advance of the male die or a punch 17 A coil extension spring 169, connected to the outer end of the other arm 167 of bell crank lever 164 e and to a stud 173 secured to the table 29 constantly urges the operating handle 161, the bell crank lever :164, the

connecting linkage, and the toggles 145, 146 into the position shown in FIG. 4 in which the male die or punch 17 is fully retracted.

In order to facilitate accurate positionlng of the rear Theguides and 176 are suitably secured centrally thereof to the inner ends. of vertically aligned plungers 177which extend vertically from said guides and are slidingly received in bores 179 formed in the central sections 65 and 66 of the female die 16.. Each of the guides 175 and 176 is further guided for vertical reciprocal movement by a central pilot pin 181 which is formed integrally with the respective plunger 177 and is accurately and slidingly received in a smaller diameter bore 180 formed in the respective die section 65, 66. Each of the guides 175 and 176 is constantly urged inwardly toward the axis of the die 16 by a coilcompression spring 182 surrounding the respective pin 181 and disposed between the respective plunger 177 and the outer end of the respec- 175, 176. Inward vertical movement of the guides 175 and 176 by the springs 182 is limited through abutting engagement of the inner ends of the plungers 177 with the leading end portion of the retracted punch or male die 17, as shown in'FIG. 4, such engagement effectively serving to accurately locate the guides vertically in their innermost operative positions, shown in FIG. 4, with their respective 'grooves 178 accurately disposed to receive the film strip 15 therein.

It is, of course, necessary to retract the guides 175 and 176 from the pathof movement ofthe punch 17v before said punclnfin its operative stroke, reaches the position of said guides. In' the embodiment of the apparatus 'shown, such retraction of the guides 175 and 176is automaticallyeifected by means in the form of two pins 187,

"securedin the-flange 13 3 of the punch 17, and projecting forwardly therefrom. The pins 187 cooperate withthe plungers 177 of the guides 175-and 17d, and each pin has a conical forward end 1% which, when the punch 17 is in its fully retracted position shown in FIG. 4, is

cated relatively close to but clear of its respective plunger 177. Each of the plungers 177 has a flat rear face 184 and has a pin-receiving bore 185 therethrough. The die sections 65 and 66 are each provided with a bore 186 which is axially aligned with the respective pin187to receive said pin. The bores 185 in the plungers 177 are'so located that their axes lie inwardly of the axes of the pins 187 when the guides 175 and 176 are in their innermost.

operative positions shown in FIG, 4, so that when the punch 17 has been advanced to and beyond the zone of the guides 175 and 176, the guides through'movement of the pins187 into the olfset'bores 185 in the plungers 177, are vertically camrned and thus retracted by said I "individual blades 23' which are recessed into the body of v v 12, p

indicates that the full image or picture on the frame of the strip to be cutout is in accurate register with the opening il' through the die 16. In the event that the film strip is advanced too far, as indicated on the screen27, it may, of course, be retracted to bring the image or picture'on the strip into accurate'register with the dies simply by'turnin'g' shaft 125 in the reverse directhe projected imagehas been properly centered with retion. As shown in FIGS; 4 and 7, the punch 17 is formed with relatively thin'outer' walls, thus leaving a rectangular passage 38 of substantialsizeextending axially therethrough and through the flange'139, and communicating at, the rear end thereof with a similar passagev 43 of substantially the same sizeforrned in and extending axially through the cross-head 137, to enable projection of the film-strip-images throughsaid'passages upon thesc'reen 27.

Preferably the film feeding and image centering operations are carried out before the insertion of'a' card 113 into' the apparatus, so that there is no possibility of partially obscuring the edges of the projectedimag'e by the card or by the border 1. on the card. Assuming that spect to the die passage 18, as seen on the screen 27, the

'the punch 17 flush with the outerside surfaces of said punch; The blades23 are removably held on the body of J the punch 17 by pins 23 which are 'loosely received in said bladesv and are held in said body by a push fit, saidpins in all positions of said punch being retained against accidental outward displacement by the adjacent die sections 67 and 69. Thus the active portions or bladeszfi 0f 6 punch :17 may be easily and quicklyremovedjas' of the apparatus. When it is necessary to sharpen the edges'77 of the female die 16, as by grinding, it is only necessary to re'rnovethe die sections 67 and 59 from the machine. Y p

The operation of the'apparatuswill be readily understood froin the foregoing description and may be briefly summarizedas follows. Assume that the la'mp has been illuminated, and thatthe film strip 15 has 'ee'n'drawh from the supply reel 115 and has been threaded between 'rolls12il and 121 and thence into the guidelllfij Also assume thaf'a plilrality of similar cards 10 are to have film-sections or frames 14 mounted in them, and that the'card supporting and guiding ledge in has been suit -ably adjusted to make the longitudinal center line of the apertures 11in the cards coincide with the horizontal centfall plane through the aligned dies 16 and 17, and that the end stop 1% has been silitably adjusted so tha't when a card'llili's fully inserted iiito the card guide in engagement with the stop 1%, thecentral vertical axis of the I card aperture 11 coincides with. the central longitudinal vertical: planejthrough the dies 16 and 17. The operator, obscrvingthe screen 27, then advances the film strip 15',

by tuiningieither of the knobs 12%,through the lateral passage 71 in the first section 69 of the die 16, so that the upper" and lower edges of said film"strip-enters the opposing grooves 173, in the upper an'd'lower retractabl guides175 and 176, respectively; Feeding of the film -strip15 i's'continue'd until. said strip has passed along the guides 175, 176, and, hence, across the die opening or for sharpe'ning, by merely retracting the punch sufficiently Tl to clear the die '16 without disturbing the other elements card 1&1 is then insertededgewise into the correct position, as above described, with the adhesivelycoated surface of the border 12 facing the film strip 1d as shown in FIG. 11. With theretractable guides 175' and17d still in their innermost film strip guiding positions, "the operator then depresses the outer end of the handle 161, thereby causing the cross-head 137 to approachthe die. 16, and the I V punch 17 carried by said cross-'head 'to move farther into said die. Before the forwardend of the punch '17 reaches the retractable guides 175 a'nd176,, the forward conical ends 1% of the pins 187 will have entered the passages 185 in ii e plungers 177, "ther'eby raising and depressing the guides 175' and 17d, respectiyely,iso that they are completely removed from the path of the punch 17 and from erigagernentwith theiilmjstrip 15. Immediately thereafter, the four corners of the filmv section to be cut from the film strip 15 are clamping'ly engaged between the outer elevated ends ofthe cutting edges rror the die 16 and the forward cuttingedg'es of the blades 23-0f :thep'unch 17, thus preventing any movement or displacement. of the film section out of proper registry with :the dies;

Continued forward movement of the punch-17 causes the film section being cut to be moved forwardly and to "be, progressively shearedat its edges by cuts-extending inwardly from the corners and lying along the, planes-of the cutting edges 77. The progressivelycut edges of the film section lie forwardly of the outer ends of the cutting edges 77 which the cut film edges have passed, so that the film section -is accurately guided at all times as it is being out and as it travels in a forward direction. When the forwardlcutting edges of the blades 23 of the punch 17 have passed beyond the central, lowest points of the'cutting edges 77, the film section 14 will have been entirely severed from the film strip 15Q, ]The severed film section 14' is then moved forwardly by the forward flat rectangular end of the punch 17, being guided by the upper and lower non-cutting inner surfaces of the die 16 and by the inner side surfaces of said die forwardly of the cutting-edges 77; As the punch 17 approaches the end of'its forward movement, the severed film section 14 will 7 be introduced by said punch into the aperture '11 in the card 10, and will be firmly pressed by the punch into engagement with the adhesive'ly coated border 12 around the aperture 11 on the card at the-end of said movement.

passage 18 in the die 16, and has at least partially entered the lateralpassage 7% in the other section 67 ofsaid die,

as indicated in FIG. 9, and the image on the'screen 27 During such latter operation, the card 11 and the border .12, thereof are backed u by the transparent anvil member 56, as shown in FIG. 12! The accurate positioning of the rear'bracket 13h by the stop means 135, 136, the accurate adjustment of the forward terminus of travel of the punch 17 by the extension arm i itl and the lower stop element 174, and the yieldable mounting of the anvil plate 56 afforded by the cushion ring 57, allow the severed film sectionsl to be pressed against the borders '12 of the l3 cards without danger of damaging said film sections, said borders or any elements of the apparatus. After the film section 14 has been thus mounted in the card 10, the handle 161 is released, whereupon the spring 169 restores the parts to the starting positions thereof shown in FIG. 4, determined by engagement of the extension arm 170 with theupperstop element 172. Retraction of the punch 17 to its original position releases the card 10 with the film section 14 mounted therein, and also releases the guides 175 and 176 for return movement by the springs 182 to their inner film strip receiving and guiding positions. Following the removal of the film mounted card 10 from the apparatus, the film strip 15 is again advanced to position the next image thereon in registry with the dies 16 and 17, a new card ltlis inserted into the apparatus, and the above described operations are repeated. I

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be understood that said invention is not limited to said em bodiment or to the particular type of insert and carddisclosed. Various changes may be made therein, particularly in the design and arrangements of the parts illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will now be clear to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is: 1.- In apparatus for cutting sections o f a predetermined length from a supply strip of relatively thin flexible material and mounting said sections in rectangular apertures in cards, a fixed planar die having a rectangular opening therethrough of substantially the same width. as that of the strip and the aperture in the card and substantially of the same length as that of said card aperture, the opposed edges of said die opening defining the length of said die opening being formed as cutting. edges, a reciprocable punch arranged at one side of said die coaxially with said die opening and corresponding in transverse cross-section to the size and shape of said die opening, said punch having spaced cutting edges cooperating with the cutting edges of said die, means for advancing the strip between said die and said punch across said die opening and past said cutting edges, opposed movably mounted guides nor- 'mally projecting into said die opening and extending across the latter substantially from cutting edge to cutting edge thereof to engage the opposed longitudinal edges of the strip and guide said strip for movement in the plane thereof across said die opening, means arranged at the opposite side of said die for supporting a card against facewise displacement away from said die and with the aperture in said card aligned with said die opening, means for operating said punch toward the strip to sever a section from said strip and move said section through said die opening into the aperture in the card, and means associated with said guides and said punch for moving said guides away from each other clear of the advanced and guided strip and clear of said die opening to enable movement of said punch past the cutting edges of said die and severance and mounting of the section in the card thereby.

2. An apparatus for cutting sections of a predetermined length from a supply strip of relatively thin flexible material and mounting said sections in rectangular apertures in cards, comprising cooperating stationary and movable dies between which the strip is advanced and each having two cuttingedges extending across the path of movement of the strip and spaced longitudinally of said path, 0pposed guides located between the cutting edges of the stationary die so as to engage the opposed longitudinal edges of the strip and thereby guide said strip for movement in a straight-line path across the space between the cutting edges of said stationary die, means for supporting said card with the aperture therein in axial alignment with said stationary and movable dies, means for operating said movable die toward the strip to sever a section therefrom and to move said severed section through said stationary die and into the aperture in said card, and means associated with said guide and said movable die for moving said guides away from each other clear of the die opening to enable movement of said movable die past tween the cutting edgesof the die so as to engage the opposed longitudinal edges of said strip and thereby to guidethe leading end of said strip between the cutting edges of said die, card guide means located adjacent the other side of said die for supporting a card with the aperture therein inaxial alignment with said die'opening, means for reciprocally supporting said punch means in 'axialalignment with said die opening, means for applying pressure to said punch means for moving the same through said die opening, means associated with said guides and said punch for moving said guides away from each other clear of the die opening to enable movement of said punch means past'the cutting edges of said die 1 whereby a section. of the strip is severed and mounted in the aperture of the card.

4. An apparatus for cutting sections of a predetermined length from a supply strip of relatively thin flexible material and mounting said sections in apertures in cards, comprising a die member having a die openingtherein, a projector comprising a source of light and a condensing lens arranged at one end of said die member and in alignment with said die opening, reciprocable punch means located at one side of said die member andcooperating with said die opening for cutting a record bearing section from said strip and moving said cut section through said die opening into theaperture in a card, a light transmitting passage through said punch means, opposed guides located between the cutting edges of the die so as to engage the opposed longitudinal edges of the strip and thereby guide said strip for movement between the cutting edges of said die, card guide means located adjacent said die member for supporting a card edgewise and facewise with the-aperture therein in axial alignment with saiddie opening, said card guide means including a translucent anvil plate having a plane surface and being adapted to engage the broad surface of the card remote from the die member at the location of the aperture in the card, means for operating said-punch toward the strip to sever a section therefrom, and means associated with said guides and said punch means for moving said guides away from each other clear of the die opening to enable movement of said punch means past the cutting edges of said die and severance and mounting of the section in the card thereby.

5. An apparatus for cutting sections of a predetermined length from a supply strip of relatively thin flexible material and mounting said sections in apertures in card-like members comprising a die having an opening therein and cutting edges on opposing sides of said opening, punch means located at one side of said die and operatively associated therewith, opposed guides located between the cutting edgesof the die to engage the opposed longitudinal edges of said strip and thereby to guide the leading end of said strip between the cutting edges of said die, a resiliently mounted transparent anvil plate spaced from the other side of said die and forming a slot therebetween, a horizontally extending ledge means positioned below said slot, means to move said ledge towardand away from said slot, a card receiving guide means adjacent one side of said slot and operatively associated with said ledge, an adjustable vertically extending stop means positioned adjacent the other side of said slot, means for moving said stop means andfbeing operatively associated. with said means for moving said ledge means, means for reciproeally moving said punch through said die, means for selectively limiting the punch movement through said die,

and means to move said guides away from each other and out of the path of movement of the punchas said punch moves through'said die.

6. An apparatus for cutting sections from a" supply strip of relatively thin material and mounting the same in.

apertures in card-like members, comprising a diehaving an opening therethrough and *cutting edges on the edges of said die on opposing sides of said opening, a hollow punch located at one side of said die and operatively associated with said die,opposed guides located between the cutting edges of said dieto' engage opposed longitudi- 1 nal edges of said strip and thereby to guide the leading endof said stnip between said cutting edges, a resiliently mounte'd' transparent anvil plate positioned adjacent the other side of said die, card receiving and aligning means positioned between said anvil and said other end of the die whereby the aperture in a card is held in alignment with said die opening, means .for reciprocally moving saidpunch through said die, means for selectively limiting the distance of movement of'said punch whereby the pressure between thej front surface of said punch and said anvil is controlled, and means to r nove said guides away from each other and 'out of the path of movement of the punch as saidpun'ch moves through said die.

'0 it E29 7. An apparatus for cutting sections "of a predetermined length from a supply strip of relatively thin flexible mafterial and mounting the same in rectangular sections in cards, comprising a die member having an opening therein and cutting edges on opposing sides of said opening, punclrmeansiocated at one side of said die and operatively associated therewith, opposed guides located between the cutting edges of said die to 'engagethe opposed outof the path of movement of'the punch as it moves through said die; 7 V r 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 comprising means to resiliently retain said guide means in operative position between the cutting edges of said die.

'- .Rieferenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,588,037 WConnor' et al Ma. 4, 1952 2,591,519 .Declrer Apr."1,"1952 2,642,786

Baker June 30, 1953 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING SECTIONS OF A PREDETERMINED LENGTH FROM A SUPPLY STRIP OF RELATIVELY THIN FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND MOUNTING SAID SECTIONS IN RECTANGULAR APERTURES IN CARDS, A FIXED PLANAR DIE HAVING A RECTANGULAR OPENING THERETHROUGH OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME WIDTH AS THAT OF THE STRIP AND THE APERTURE IN THE CARD AND SUBSTANTIALLY OF THE SAME LENGTH AS THAT OF SAID CARD APERTURE, THE OPPOSED EDGES OF SAID DIE OPENING DEFINING THE LENGTH OF SAID DIE OPENING BEING FORMED AS CUTTING EDGES, A RECIPROCABLE PUNCH ARRANGED AT ONE SIDE OF SID DIE COAXIALLY WITH SAID DIE OPENING AND CORRESPONDING IN TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION TO THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF SAID DIE OPENING, SAID PUNCH HAVING SPACED CUTTING EDGES COOPERATING WITH THE CUTTING EDGES OF SAID DIE, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE STRIP BETWEEN SAID DIE AND SAID PUNCH ACROSS SAID DIE OPENING AND PAST SAID CUTTING EDGES, OPPOSED MOVABLY MOUNTED GUIDES NORMALLY PROJECTING INTO SAID DIE OPENING AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE LATTER SUBSTANTIALLY FROM CUTTING EDGE TO CUTTING EDGE THEREOF TO ENGAGE THE OPPOSED LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE STRIP AND GUIDE SAID STRIP FOR MOVEMENT IN THE PLANE THEREOF ACROSS SAID DIE OPENING, MEANS ARRANGED AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID DIE FOR SUPPORTING A CARD AGAINST FACEWISE DISPLACEMENT AWAY FROM SAID DIE AND WITH THE APERTURE IN SAID CARD ALIGNED WITH SAID DIE OPENING, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID PUNCH TOWARD THE STRIP TO SEVER A SECTION FROM SAID STRIP AND MOVE SAID SECTION THROUGH SAID DIE OPENING INTO THE APERTURE IN THE CARD, AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID GUIDES AND SAID PUNCH FOR MOVING SAID GUIDES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER CLEAR OF THE ADVANCED AND GUIDED STRIP AND CLEAR OF SID DIE OPENING TO ENABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID PUNCH PAST THE CUTTING EDGES OF SAID DIE AND SEVERANCE AND MOUNTING OF THE SECTION INTHE CARD THEREBY. 